Method and apparatus for a passive network-based internet address caching system

• US 20030005081A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hunt, Preston J.
• Application Number:
  US09/893,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005081A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for caching web addresses are presented. A network interface monitors traffic on a network. A filter extracts web addresses from the monitored traffic. A database stores the extracted web addresses. A network device queries the database. The query returns zero or more web addresses to the network device. As such, a user of a limited-input network device may access desired web addresses without manually inputting the addresses.

Claims

1. A method for caching web addresses comprising:

monitoring, by a network interface, traffic on a network;

extracting, by a filter, web addresses from the monitored traffic;

storing, by a database, the extracted web addresses; and

querying, by a network device, the database, the querying returning zero or more web addresses to the network device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising categorizing, by a categorization mechanism, the extracted web addresses based at least in part on content.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising informing a user if an extracted web address falls within a predetermined category.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reviewing, by a user, the extracted web addresses;

selecting, by the user, zero or more extracted web addresses to become subject to a restriction; and

restricting a second user from surfing the extracted web addresses subject to the restriction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device includes one of an Internet tablet, a palm computing device, a cell phone, and a TV-based Internet device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising surfing, by the user, one among the zero or more web addresses.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying includes downloading the zero or more web addresses when the network device is connected to the network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, by the network device, one among the zero or more web addresses; and

selecting, by a user, a web address among the displayed web addresses to surf.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one among the zero or more web addresses is displayed in a drop-down menu.

10. A method for caching web addresses comprising:

monitoring, by a network interface, traffic on a network;

extracting, by a filter, web addresses from the monitored traffic; and

storing, by a database, the extracted web addresses,

wherein a network device queries the database for zero or more web addresses.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the monitoring comprises passively monitoring traffic.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling or disabling, by a user, the monitoring.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the network comprises a network in a home.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the network comprises a wireless network.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the network comprises an intranet.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising sorting the stored web addresses according to at least one criterion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one criterion includes one of time, date, hit count, and content.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the database comprises a history cache.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the network device includes one of an Internet tablet, a palm computing device, a cell phone, and a TV-based Internet device.

20. A system for caching web addresses comprising:

a network interface configured to monitor traffic on a network;

a filter configured to extract web addresses from the monitored traffic;

a database configured to store the extracted web addresses; and

a network device configured to query the database, wherein the database query returns zero or more web addresses.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the network comprises a local area network (LAN).

22. A system for caching web addresses comprising:

a network interface configured to monitor traffic on a network;

a filter configured to extract web addresses from the monitored traffic; and

a database configured to store the extracted web addresses,

wherein a network device queries the database for zero or more web addresses.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein one hardware device comprises the network interface, the filter, and the database.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the network interface comprises a network adapter configured to operate in promiscuous mode.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the filter comprises a software agent on a client.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the monitoring comprises passively monitoring traffic.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising processor-executable instructions for surfing, by the network device, one among the zero or more web addresses.

26. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of processor-executable instructions for:

monitoring, by a network interface, traffic on a network;

extracting, by a filter, web addresses from the monitored traffic; and

storing, by a database, the extracted web addresses,

wherein a network device queries the database for zero or more web addresses.

28. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of processor-executable instructions for:

querying, by a network device, a database, the querying returning zero or more web addresses to the network device,

wherein a network interface monitors traffic on a network,

a filter extracts web addresses from the monitored traffic, and

a database stores the extracted web addresses.